Vigilant Missionary Society.
By Mrs. H. Tay
OCTOBER 18, 1877, a meeting was called by the sisters of the Oakland church, for the purpose of organizing a Vigilant Missionary Society, when thirteen joined. At present it has a membership of twenty-four. We started with twenty copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and have increased our club from time to time, till now we are using one hundred and fifty copies each week. Since our Society was first organized quite a number of very interesting letters have been received by different members. The following are a few extracts from some of them:— A lady from Maine writes: "Yours just received; am very much interested in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, but am too poor to take it; my husband was sick two years and a half, and died one year and a half ago, and I am struggling along with my two children the best I can. May the Lord bless and prosper you, and if we never meet here we will hope to meet on the new earth, where its inhabitants will never say, I am sick." The following is from a gentleman in Iowa, who has just commenced to keep the Sabbath: "A sister sent me some copies of the Review and Herald and I enjoy reading them exceedingly. I feel quite sure you are right on the Sabbath question, and though alone have commenced to keep the fourth commandment. Some of your doctrines are full of comfort. I am seeking to know the truth and hope for divine assistance. A lady living a few miles away, recently expressed an earnest desire to know the truth in regard to the change in the Sabbath. I have been informed that this lady and her husband have not joined any church since coming west on account of the pride in the churches, and are consequently trying to live religion alone. I wish you would send her some reading matter to throw light upon the Sabbath question. I am and have long been a member of the Methodist church, yet your doctrine I find very consoling if true. I hope God will bless you with success. Allow me to express a strong sympathy for you in your labor in God's cause." The following is from a lady in Carson City, Nevada, who attended a few lectures while Elder Healey was here: "I received your kind letter. I cannot tell you how glad I was to receive the papers, and then to get a letter made me feel almost happy for a time. I am in a store working under many difficulties, but with them all I have a love for this strange and to me new doctrine. About a year ago a lady came to Carson and preached a few times on the prophecies; but I think I believed this doctrine before that, and when I went to Oakland and found my way into your church I felt that I had found my people. Oh, I cannot tell you how I long to be with you, for I believe you are the people of God. I feel that the people of Carson have not had the gospel preached to them, but I am poor in this world's goods, and it seems to me I am powerless to help them. If you can suggest any way to sound the warning to them I will gladly do all I can. Please find enclosed one dollar for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES six months, and if it is not asking too much, write to me again and pray for me often." Another writes: "I acknowledge the receipt of your letter. I am sorry to inform you that I never received the papers you sent to my address. I always have felt interested in your paper. A friend kindly loaned me several of them to read. If you can conveniently send me a copy you will confer a favor on a friend of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and a searcher for Bible truth." The following is from a minister in New York: "Your very kind letter was forwarded to me to-day. I am now here preaching to a feeble church once on the Sabbath only. I am sixty-seven years of age and in poor health, with very limited means. I received one or two papers from your Office. I endorse the sentiments and teachings of your paper in the main, and you have my prayers and best wishes. I would have the paper continued if my means would permit." A gentleman in West Virginia writes: "Dear sister in Christ and benefactor to many of our very poor white, and colored families: May God bless you a hundred fold for your great kindness to our destitute people. Any tracts, religious papers, cards or little books will be very thankfully received for distribution among our poor." A lady from British Columbia writes: "Dear friend: We received your letter and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES which we like very much. We are lending them to our neighbors. We enclose you a dollar's worth of American stamps for six months' subscription." Other extracts equally interesting might be given, but these are sufficient to show the workings of our society. We hope others will be encouraged to engage in the same great and good work.